The Matt Cockburn Fake Radio Show

29 May, 2008- Murder in Adams County
30 May 2008, admin @ 12:01 am

It was with some reservation and a strong curiosity that I ventured to the scene of the murder of Andrew Bosley.
Initially, it seemed like a good idea. In an odd way, I felt that it added some excitement to an otherwise boring life. Still, I deliberated for a while. Do I really want to see that knowing what happened there? But then I reminded myself of one of my many credos: if history occurs near you, no matter how big or small, see it, if you can, or visit the location after the fact. So, I went.

On the drive through Fairfield, a town I have driven through countless time, the view seemed different– almost eerie. Perhaps it was my sense of the dramatic. But it reminded me of a movie about a small town murder where the peaceful and serene suddenly looks ominous and twisted. Arriving in the neighborhood, I went to the entrance to the woods where the murder was committed.

There was a Teddy Bear lying on the ground.
At first, it struck me as clichéd. I mean, how many times do we see an impromptu shrine on a highway where there was a traffic fatality? But when I read the inscription on the heart attached to the bear, saying “I Love You”, it sunk in. The victim was a baby. A boy. Not yet a man. I have a cousin who is a few months away from his age and I can recall the day she was born and holding her as a baby. The sojourn had now become less of a curiosity and more of some sort of sad pilgrimage. A person died only 500 yards away. He was a young man who had not yet experienced the best life has to offer. And it made me sad.  I almost wanted to get back in the car. But I pressed on.

I must say that once I entered the path, things got spooky. Again, I felt as if I was in a movie. Here I was: an idiot who thinks he’s a Sioux Indian scout, walking into the woods to find a murder scene. It was somewhat exciting. My imagination ran wild as I anticipated finding a useful missing piece of evidence that the cops missed. (What a nit-wit I can be.)  The path was very clear, as if manicured for easy access.

There were tracks from ATVs, which neighbors reported seeing carrying the body out. Still, I am sure that the trail in the woods is mainly used for such vehicles as there was another trail intersecting the one I was walking on with such tracks.

The woods were dense with thick undergrowth.

I could hear the sounds of the surrounding neighborhood in the form of dogs barking and children playing. And that struck me in a way I cannot yet describe. As these dogs barked and these children played, I was walking in the woods to find the location where a young man had, no doubt, experienced sheer terror before his vitality ceased. I put myself in his shoes and thought that I would be praying for one of these neighbors to stumble upon my killer and me and save my life. All I could do was repeat to myself “So close, yet so far away.” 

After walking for some distance, I stopped. Out of the corner of my right eye, I noticed a clearing. I said to myself, “Here’s a place I would camp.” Before I looked at the clearing, however, I looked ahead of me on the trail. There seemed to be no signs of recent treading. As I turned to look at the clearing, some 20-feet, or so, a chill ran up my spine as I saw the remnants of a campfire and walked towards it. As I neared the site, I noticed something yellow. At first, I thought it was crime scene tape. But on closer observation, it was a yellow ribbon wrapped around a bouquet of flowers.

On the ground upon which the flowers rested there was clear evidence of fire and, I suspect, blood-stained soil.

What seemed odd to me were the various items arrayed around the burned ground. There was an unopened package of hot dogs, several cans of some type of noodles and other unidentified canned goods. There were a few icepacks as well. And there was a steak still on the foam plate it came on.  There were also the melted remnants of your standard blue tarp.

I looked around and tried to make sense of it all. While it was fairly obvious where the body was as opposed to where the campfire was, I was baffled by the reality and gravity of the site.

After perhaps 15 minutes, I decided it was time to leave. I realized that in this spot a human soul was released (hopefully to a good place). I was humbled. I think I spoke something to the sky as well, but I can’t recall what I said. This was, after all, my first murder scene and I didn’t know how to take it all in. Each sound coming from the woods that, on any other day, I would ignore, yielded a moment of pause for me. I say again, it was like being in a movie. Was it a squirrel scampering through the underbrush? Or was it a mysterious killer? Of course, I knew it was probably a squirrel.

I exited the way I entered. As I gazed to the west, I saw the sun set over the mountains. I have always loved a nice sunset. But this sunset, for some reason, made me think of his family. It was symbolic to me. The sun has set on their happiness with this young man who has not yet begun his life. Whatever stories may come out about him in the future; whatever negative things may be said about Andy in the trial that is sure to come, it is important for me to remember that he was not yet a man– not really an adult. He will never be a husband. He will never be a father. And he will never give his parents grandchildren to spoil. And the son-of-a-bitch who made this all so should be given no leniency, “no quarter” and should, I pray, rot in the fiery pits of hell.

And so, though I did not know Andy Bosley, I wish all the comforts of God on those he left behind and the wrathful vengeance of said God on his murderer. May Andrew rest in peace.

Scrivi un commento

Nome

E-mail (non verrà pubblicata)

Sito Web